Mask



Aug. 4, 1959 Q R; F. MARINA 2,897,817

MASK Filed June 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RA MON FERNANDEZ MARI/VA ATTORNEYS United States Patent MASK Ramon Fernandez Marina, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,658

2 Claims. (Cl. 128-141) The present invention relates to a mask and, more particularly, relates to a mask of the type employed by divers.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a mask of simple construction having a viewing chamber, a breathing chamber and means for supplying oxygen to the breathing chamber.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a diving mask having a minimum number of parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mask which will be light in weight yet sturdy in construction.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be made apparent by the following description and drawings, which, it will be understood, are only illustrative of the invention and impose no limitations thereon not imposed by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals refer to like parts,

'Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved mask;

Fig. 2 is view of the inside of the mask;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mask;

Fig. 5 is a front view of a modification of the invention, and

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of the valves employed in the modification shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the invention illustrated therein consists of a mask made of natural or synthetic rubber, light-weight metals, or plastics capable of being cast or molded.

The modification shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a mask A formed from suitable material molded to conform to the outline of the face of the wearer and provided with spaced compartments which comprise the viewing chamber 1 and the breathing chamber 2. It should be noted that the mask does not cover the mouth. The front wall of the chamber 1 is provided with an opening normally closed by a transparent glass or transparent window 3. The chambers 1, 2 are separated by a partition 4 which extends inwardly from the front of the mask and which is adapted to conform to the curvature of the face and the bridge of the nose. The partition is covered with rubber 5, or like material, to provide a tight yet comfortable fit. Also, the edge of the mask abutting the face of the wearer is provided with a rubber strip 6 for the same purpose.

The breathing chamber 2 is provided with two ducts 10, 11 which extend through the wall thereof, the inner ends of which open into the chamber 2 at opposite sides 2 thereof. The ducts open to the outside of the mask through horizontal passages formed in lugs 12, 13 formed with the mask. A head strap 14 is attached to the lugs and is adapted to extend around the head of the wearer and hold the mask firmly in place. The outer end of each duct has connected thereto a flexible tube 15, 16, aflfixed to the head strap, these tubes entering into a flexible bladder 17 alfixed to the head strap adjacent the back of the head.

An oxygen bottle 20 is affixed to the top of the mask, above the viewing chamber, by means of suitable couplings 21. The bottle is provided with a hand valve 22 and an outlet pipe 23 controlled by the valve 22. A vertically extending column 24 is formed along the side of the mask extending from the top thereof to the lug 12. This column is provided with a duct 25, the lower end of which is connected to the duct 10 by means of a vertical duct 26 in the lug 12. The outlet pipe 23 of the oxygen bottle 20 is inserted into the duct 25. If desired, the lug 12 and column 24 may be integrally formed, as shown in Fig. 3.

In use, the mask, as just described, is placed on the head of the wearer who, after taking a deep breath, dives into the water. After a suflicient period of time, the wearer expels his breath through his mouth and into the water. Then, he opens the valve 22 to permit oxygen to flow from the cylinder 20 through ducts 25 and 10 into the breathing chamber. The wearer then breathes in a fresh supply of air and turns the valve off. This air may be rebreathed, circulating through ducts 10, 11, tubes 15, 16 and into bladder 17 for a period of time. After the oxygen is used up, the air is expelled from the mouth and the process repeated.

The modification shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, is similar to the previously described modification with the exception of the construction of the breathing chamber. In this modification the mask extends around the entire face of the wearer and covers the mouth and chin. A valve 30 is centrally located in the bottom portion of the mask opposite the mouth of the wearer. This valve is adapted to open when the wearer exhales and comprises a seal 31 mounted on the outside of the mask in a tubular frame 32. The seal is held in position by a spring 33, the outer end of which abuts a wire mesh member 34 held in the frame. A rubber diaphragm 35 covers the outer end of the tubular frame to prevent water from entering the frame.

In addition to the above, valve means are provided for regulating the passage of air in the tubes 15, 16. Duct 10 is provided with a one-way valve 40, shown in Fig. 8, the valve being opened when oxygen is drawn through the duct 10 or tube 15. Duct 12 is provided with a one-way valve 41 which is adapted to open upon exhalation of the wearer to permit air to pass through duct 11, tube 15, into the bladder and then be redrawn into the breathing chamber through tube 15 and passage 10 by the valve 40. The valves 40, 41 comprise, respectively, seals 45, 46 held in place against seats 47, 48 by springs 49, 50. It will be noted that when the valve 40 is opened to draw air or oxygen into the viewing chamber the valve 41 will remain closed and when air is expelled into the bladder the valve 41 opens while valve 40 remains closed.

After the air is used the wearer of the mask expels the air with suflicient pressure to open valve 30 and permit the used air to escape into. the water. Valve 22 is then opened to permit new oxygen to be admitted and the process is repeated. It should be remembered also that the mask is adapted to be used for shallow diving.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, as well as modifications thereof, may be made without departing in any way from the spirit or scope of the invention, for the limits of which reference must be had to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A diving mask comprising a viewing chamber covering the eyes of the wearer, a breathing chamber covering only the nose of the wearer to thereby permit the mouth of the wearer to be uncovered, a partition conforming to the features of the wearer separating the said chambers, and a strap for holding said mask in place during use, a duct extending laterally through each side wall of the breathing chamber and opening therein, said ducts being interconnected outside said mask by a flexible tube coextensive with the strap, a container for oxygen mounted on said mask, an additional duct formed in the side wall of said mask, one end of which opens into one of the said lateral ducts, the other end of which is connected to the oxygen container and control means associated with the container for regulating the supply of oxygen to the breathing chamber.

2. A diving mask comprising a viewing chamber, a breathing chamber and a partition separating said chambers, a strap for holding said mask in place during use, at least two ducts extending laterally through the side walls of the breathing chamber and opening therein, said ducts being interconnected outside said mask by a flexible tube coextensive with the strap, a container for oxygen 20 mounted on said mask above the viewing chamber, an

additional duct formed in the side wall of said mask, one end of which opens into one of the said lateral ducts, the other end being connected to the oxygen container, control means associated with the container for regulating the supply of oxygen to the breathing cham' ber, valve means mounted in said lateral ducts to permit oxygen to be drawn into the breathing chamber and addi tional valve means mounted in the wall of said breath ing chamber to permit oxygen to be expelled therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 968,232 Bentz Aug. 23, 1910 1,176,901 Jessup Mar. 28, 1916 1,945,919 Seijo Feb. 6, 1934 2,168,695 Asari Aug. 8, 1939 2,344,718 Morehouse Mar. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 473,185 France Sept. 12, 1914 

